Hanami, finally

Finally, almost a year to the day of casting on, I have finished the Hanami Stole. I started it a few days before Mr Wriggly was born, thinking that I'd have a shot at finishing it because he was never ever going to come out. Ha. Boy, did he show me.

It was only two weeks ago that I felt mentally able to cope with the basket weave pattern again, which was a complete grind. The cherry blossom pattern just flew by though. I'm so pleased with how it turned out. The Sea Silk Handmaiden yarn is wonderful to knit with and the stitch definition is superb.


Here are the specs: two skeins of Sea Silk Handmaiden in Ebony. The idea for a Hanami in this yarn in this colour is totally ripped off from Splityarn. The skein used for the basket weave end was darker than the cherry blossom end. The cherry blossom skein had more copper highlights, and dare I say it, the odd undyed fleck. I beaded the ends with tiny, pinkish, glass beads, that are almost impossible to photograph. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have used larger beads as they have been mostly swallowed by the yarn. Of course, in searching for the link to Splityarn's Hanami, I just found her tutorial about how to do a beaded cast off. Hey ho.


Its destined to be the divine Ms N's birthday present. I'll try and get a shot of her modeling it.

I'm starting back at work on Monday, four days a week. The Knit Widower is going to be Mr Wriggly's primary parent. Its all a bit daunting really. I ran into Six and a Half Stitches in the newsagents this morning and she gave me some comforting words about managing the work-family-knitting-life balance. Thank you SaaHS! I'm sure once its all happening, it will all be ok.

As requested

Its hard to tell where most of the food went - on his top, around his mouth or into his mouth. Unusually, he doesnt seem to have wiped any through his hair.

We're back!

Hurrah for informed camera advice from you all (both blog comments and other advice), hurrah for ebay and a lovely man who actually delivered the camera to my home, hurrah for photogenic children, hurrah for knitting and an even bigger hurrah for a fab camera.

It can do this:


And this:



And it even shows that scientists are wrong. Dinosaurs did not evolve, they were knitted....

Its a Cannon G10 Powershot, and despite having a name like a drink an underage girl would overindulge in, it is fantastic.

(Photos top to bottom: Hanami, Rockin' Hot Flush, Prehistoric Pals Braciosaurus and Triceratops)

Normal transmission will resume shortly

Normal transmission will resume shortly, once I've sorted out my camera issues. Any suggestions for a new one?

In the meantime, Mr Wriggly has agreed to be my test pattern.

(Copyright Pia Solberg)

What madness is this?

For some reason, my rapidly approaching return to work has caused me to undertake some crazy stash enhancement. Below are the most recent acquisitions.

Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn in Fall Foliage bought from Bec (Becboo on Ravelry)


Bruised Bloodwood 100% Baby Alpaca by Yarn Cakes


Merino Chubby Sock Yarn in Smoke from The Knittery's closing down sale - alas.


And a group shot including two yarns from Wired for Fibre in Hero and Baroque. My crappy camera cant capture the beauty of the dark purple of Hero and the plummy shade of Baroque.



Now the fun begins - what to make with all these lovelies?

Best foot forward

There has been some knitting progress in Casa Joy and Widower. I've managed a whole Escher sock from the amazing Knitting Socks With Handpainted Yarn. Its a cornucopia of fabulousness and I havent been able to get the Escher off my needles quick enough. There are so many wonderful socks to make!

The amazing case of the vanishing Bijou

Here is my Bijou, coming along very nicely thank you very much.



Here is my Bijou with the three needle bind off completed for the shoulder seams.


Decency laws prevented me from putting up a snap of me trying it on. (OK and my vanity too).

Current state of my Bijou, ready for round two in the next size up.



(Just so you know, the top photo has the truest colour.)